Apparatus for measuring and regulating the concentration of dye liquors.



250-201 252 gsammca HAMMER FIPBZIZ XR 190029635 W. BRATKOWSKI. APPARATUS FOR IEASUBIHG AND BEGULATIHG THE OONOBHTKATIOH 0F DYE LIQUOBS.

- APPLIOAIIOI nLnn 1113.10, 1911.

1,002,635. Patented Sept 5, 1911.

INVENTOH ,l whim- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. WLADISLAUS BRATKOWSKI, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND BEGULA'IING THE CONCENTRATION OF DYE Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

LIQUOBS.

1 02,635, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1911. Serial in. 813,619.

1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WLADISLAUS BRAT- KOWSKI, a subject of the German Emperor, and residing at Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Regulatin the Concentration of Dye Liquors, of which the following is a specification.

The subject-matter of my invent-ion is apparatus for measuring or indicating and regulating the depths of tone of dye-liquors, whereby it is possible to indicate both the depth of color of any dye by means of a measuring apparatus and also to maintain the concentration of a dye during the dyeingiprocess at a desired degree.

y apparatus is based on the employment of an electric conductor sensitive to light, e. g. a selenium cell, whose conductivity, as is well-known, is dependent on the strength of the illumination.

The essential feature of my apparatus is that the light from a constant source of light passes through a dye-liquor inclosed ,between lasses onto a selenium cell or the like interpo ated in an electric circuit. Now according as the concentration of the dye in the glass vessel is greater or less, more or less light will fall onto the selenium cell and in this manner the resistance of the current is varied. It is consequently possible with the aid of the fluctuations of the current in the circuit to determine the concentration of the dye by means of an ammeter.

When it is desired to keep the dye during the dyeing process at a definite degree of concentration, I can use the fluctuations in the electric circuit for regulatingthe supply of the dye-liquor.

One illustrative embodiment of my invention is represented by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein my apparatus is shown employed in connection of dye requisite for a definite shade of color.- The apparatus according to my invention is employed for regulating the suppl from the tank 5 through the valve 6 in t e bottom thereof according in each instance to the concentration which t-here'is to be in the dye circulating through the pipes 4, 7, 8.

The main pipe 7 is provided with a branch-pipe 9. The dye-liquor flowing through the latter passes through a glassvessel 10 having plane glass-sides. This glass-vessel is surrounded b a double box 11 and 12, which is closed light-tight. In one compartment 11 of the box is placed a constant source of light 13 in the form of an electric incandescent lamp, while in the opposite compartment a selenium cell 14 or the like is provided. The selenium-cell is placed in an electric circuit 15 in which is ocated an ammeter 17, a source of current 16 and a solenoid 18, having an iron core 19. According to the fluctuations of the current produced b the illumination on the selenium-cell l greater or smaller deflections are produced in the ammeter 17. According as more or less current flows through circuit 15 the iron-core 19 is drawn downward more or less. These movements are transmitted from the core of the solenoid by a fulcrumed lever 20 to the rod 21 of the valve 6, so that according to the strength of current in the circuit 15 and indirectly to the concentration of the dye-liquor flowing through the branch-pipe 9 and vessel 10, the valve 6 in the bottom of the tank 5 is opened more or less. In this manner the supply of dyeliquor is automatically regulated:-

Obviously, instead of myapparatus being connectedwith the branch pipe 9 it may be directly connected in the main 7.

My described apparatus is of s ecial importance for apparatus used in ye-works, 1n which it is frequently necessary to d e several lots of goods in succession t e same tone. In such cases my apparatus is very useful because the dye can be adjusted once for all quite exactly to a definite degree. It is simply necessary to adjust the valve 6 from the first in such manner that, when a definite degree of concentration is obtained, it is closed and no more dye is allowed to flow to the pump. Obviously, it is also possible to close the valve 22, provided in the pipe connecting the tank with the pipe 4, by hand when the requisite degree of concentration indicated by the ammeter is obtained. By observing to what degree the dye has been exhausted according to the indication of the ammeter, the circulation of the dye can be stopped at a suitable mo ment, and in this manner inspection of the material, as has heretofore generally been necessary, can be avoided.

It is to he understood that instead of a selenium cell any other body may be used in my apparatus, in so far as it has the property, peculiar to the selenium cell, of varying electrical conductivity when subjected to varying illumination.

1. In apparatus for indicating and automatically regulating the depth of tone of dye-liquor, the combination, with a tank containing a concentrated dye-liquor, a dyeing apparatus, a main-pipe for supplying dyeliqluor to said dyeing apparatus, a deliveryva ve -in said tank connecting the valved outlet of the tank with the mainipe, a glass vessel having its ends in open re ation with the main-pipe, a constant source of light on one side of the vessel; an electric circuit comprising in series a constant source of durrent, a solenoid having a movable core, an ammeter, and a selenium-cell arranged on the other side of the glass-vessel; and

means for operatively connecting the core of the solenoid with the delivery-valve of the tank.

2. In apparatus for indicating and automatically regulating the depth of tone of dye-liquor, the combination, with a tank for containing concentrated (lye-liquor, a dyeing apparatus, a main-pipe for supplying dye-liquor to said dyeing apparatus, a branch-pipe connected with the main-pipe, a delivery-valve in said tank, having a valve-rod, a glass-vessel in said branch-pipe, a constant source of light at one side of said glass-vessel, an electric circuit comprising a constant source of current, a solenold having a movable core, an ammeter, and a selenium-cell arranged on the opposite side of the glass vessel, and a fulcrumed lever having one arm pivotally connected with the core of the solenoid and the other arm with the valve-rod for regulating the supply of dye-liquor to the dyeing apparatus.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WLADISLAUS BRATKOWSKI.

Witnesses WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER. 

